McAuley Residence, a long-term care facility of Catholic Health, received a “deficiency-free” survey from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). According to the DOH, only seven percent of all nursing homes surveyed in New York State in 2009 achieved “Substantial Compliance,” which means they were deficiency-free or received only minor deficiencies.

“This is a testament to the high quality care and service our clinical and support staff provide our residents every day of the year,” said Tova Kristal, administrator of McAuley Residence. “Our entire team deserves accolades for this special achievement.”

CMS contracts with state health departments to visit nursing homes periodically to ensure providers are meeting national regulatory standards. The survey team looks at many aspects of quality and safety including the care of residents, the interaction between residents and staff, and the nursing home environment.

Citations, or deficiencies in care, may result in fines, suspended payments or termination of the nursing home’s certification to participate in Medicare and Medicaid. This year, nursing homes in New York State received an average of seven citations during their health department surveys. The national average is 11.

“I’d like to congratulate the associates of McAuley Residence on their recent survey,” said Christine Kluckhohn, President & CEO of Catholic Health’s Continuing Care Services. “This is a significant accomplishment and a reflection of everyone’s commitment to provide the best care to our patients and residents.”